Archives

unexpected guests: hilda grahnat.

today we’re visiting someone who’s photography constantly inspires me, hilda grahnat, a 25 year old photographer and graphic designer based in Malmö, Sweden. i’ve admired hilda’s work for so long and she was once even kind enough to allow me to order one of my favorite prints of hers — extra large. i love her fresh prespective and her unique ability to make even the most ordinary objects quite beautiful. hilda first caught my eye with her vintage by color photographs – you should check them out, and visit her lovely shop as well.

i love what’s hilda has done with her quaint studio apartment — she has loads of vintage collections, but they’re curated so well that her space doesn’t look crowded or cluttered. and i quite identify with how hilda likes to change up the ways she displays her collections (reminds me, well — of me). let’s have a visit, shall we?

What part of Malmö do you live, and what are a few of your favorite things to do there?
I live in a 39 sqm apartment in the southwestern part of Malmö, in the south of Sweden. My neighborhood is really ugly and boring, but a short walk away are blocks of lovely little brick houses that are typical for Skåne (the province Malmö belongs to) where I love to walk around (and dream about living one day). It’s also only a 15 minute bike ride to the beach, and a 10 minute walk to one of Malmö’s beautiful parks.

[ note how hilda has changed up the display on her dresser – the vintage yellow lamp stays, but the rest is updated, giving her a whole new look. ]

Do you have a day job?
I’m slowly starting to earn money on my photography. I do mostly weddings, interior and editorial shoots.

What kind of camera(s) do your shoot with?
I use a Nikon D700 with prime lenses (35, 50, 85 mm). I have over 20 film cameras that I use on occasion, but most often I am too impatient to wait to see the results.

What are a few of your favorite etsy, handmade or online shops?
I love Present & Correct, Fine Little Day, and… I can’t think of a third. I don’t usually buy things online, don’t know why.

What’s your favorite possession?
I hate to say it, but I don’t know how I ever lived without my iPhone. Other than that, I treasure old family photos and things I have inherited from my grandparents that are all over my apartment.

Favorite quote or expression?
“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.” (by Denis Waitley, I think).

What bores you to death?
Fantasy books/movies. I tried to watch the first The Lord of the Rings movie twice and fell asleep both times. [ i’m with hilda. ]

The quirky clock collection is by far my favorite detail. However, her second collection , that of the empty glass bottles is also wonderful. The charm is in the 1950’s typography and color schemes allows to pop due to the ultra white walls. Brava.

After reading so many Swedish detective novels set in Malmo AND design blogs, here is the perfect combination – someone so stylish who lives in Malmo!

The classic Scandinavian look is much cleaner and whiter but I like her space. It’s inviting and seems like a place that someone really lives in. Not staged. It takes a lot of skill to pull together an eclectic collection without it looking like a thrift store with no rhyme or reason.

I love the photo wall, your kitchen table by the window looking over the city, and those clocks…I thrift all the time, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to score a super cute clock!! Maybe, my luck will turn around after reading this post!